No wonder tea party exists

First, our courageous governor raises Illinois state income tax 2 percentage points (67 percent). You know the one, the guy who said he would never accept more that a 1 percentage point increase during his campaign.

Then, to add insult to injury, our property tax bill comes in the mail. Even though our assessment dropped by 7 percent in 2010, our taxes went up. To cover the reduced assessments of the the last two years, the tax rate increased 10 percent in 2010 alone.

It is apparent that no matter what property values do, the taxing bodies are not going to take a cut in revenue and simply grab it from those of us still in our homes. The vicious circle of higher property taxes forcing people out of their homes resulting in reduced tax revenues, followed by further tax increases, continues. No wonder there is a tea party movement.

Steve Argabright

Lily Lake